LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Ronald William McDONALD
Service No: 419203
Born: Marrickville NSW, 13 November 1923
Enlisted in the RAAF: 17 July 1942 (at Melbourne VIC)
Unit: No. 77 Squadron
Died: Air Operations: (No. 77 Squadron Kittyhawk aircraft A29-185), off Kiriwina Island PNG, 3 November 1943, Aged 19 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Ronald Alexander and Emily Olive McDonald, of Mount Albert, Victoria
Roll of Honour: Box Hill VIC
Remembered: Panel 36, Rabaul Memorial PNG
Remembered: Panel 104, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On return from a dive bombing mission at Palalmal Plantation, New Britain on 3 November 1943, Kittyhawk A29-185 flown by Sergeant McDonald was seen to crash land into the sea between Kiriwina and Goodenough islands at about 0900 hours. The aircraft sank immediately, but the pilot was seen in the water apparently dazed and injured but his Mae West not inflated. Sergeant McDonald disappeared in a few seconds and later searches found no trace lit him. It was believed that engine failure was the probable cause of the crash.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/26/277; A9845, 8